Tray fastening



R. sTuNsON -Y2,024,667

TRAY FASTENING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed oct. S, 1954 Dea. 17y '1935, R.s'frlNsQN @924,667

TRAY FASTENING Filed Oct. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 adem Patented Dec.17, 1935 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE TRAY FASTENING Application October8, 1934, Serial No. 747,406

1 Claim.

This invention relates to childrens high chairs and similar articles offurniture, and relates more particularly to devices for securing a trayin a desired position on such a chair.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved fasteningdevices for such purposes, so designed that a tray may be locked in anyone of several positions on the chair arms or other supportingstructure, while at the same time convenient removal of the tray ispermitted.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a high chair embodying myimprovements;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan View, looking in the direction of the arrow 2in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, taken along the line 3-3in Fig. 2 and showing the parts in spaced relation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts assembled;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of those portions of the fastening devicewhich are secured to the tray, looking in the direction of the arrow 5in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of that portion of the fastening device whichis secured to the chair, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig.3.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown portions of a high' chair ofusual construction and having a seat I0, legs II, a back I2 and arms I4supported by spindles I5. A tray is supported on the arms I4 and isslidable forwardly and rearwardly on said arms.

Special fastening devices are provided by which the tray 20 is guided inits sliding movements and by which it may be locked in a desiredposition. Each fastening device comprises a fixed guide member 22, acooperating movable guide member 23 and a locking member 24.

Each fixed guide member 22 is secured at the outer side of one of thechair arms I4 by screws 25, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Eachmovable guide member 23 is secured by screws 21 (Fig. 5) to the underside of the tray 20, and each locking member 24 is similarly secured byan additional screw 28 which also passes through and effects thesecuring of the associated member 23.

The guide members 22 and 23 are preferably formed of some suitable sheetmetal such as aluminum, and the locking member 24 is prefy erably formedof spring steel.

Each fixed guide member 22 is provided with 5 a series of depressedportions 30 (Figs. 3 and 6) and these depressed portions 30 provideslots or openings to receive an inwardly projecting portion 32 of thelocking member or spring 24 associated therewith. 10

Each movable guide member 23 is provided with a cut out portion 33 toreceive its locking member 24. Preferably a cross portion 34 is left,which secures together the separated portions of the guide member 23 andalso limits outward 15 movement of the locking member 24.

Each locking member 24 is extended downward and outward to provide ahandle portion 35 by which it may be conveniently manipulated. The endsof the fixed guiding members 22 are 20 preferably rounded and tapered asindicated at 4I] in Figs. 3 and 6 to facilitate assembly of the parts.

When it is desired to assemble a tray with a high chair, the fasteningmembers 24 are swung 25 outward by applying pressure in the direction ofthe arrows a in Fig. 4 and the tray is then pushed backward with respectto the chair, causing the guide members 23 on the tray to embrace theguide members 22 on the chair arms, thus 30 definitely positioning andsupporting the tray.

The tray is then pushed backward to such a position that the lockingmembers or springs 24 may enter the selected recesses 3B. When thesprings are released, they seat themselves in the 35 recesses asindicated in Fig. 4, thus locking the tray firmly in position andpreventing displacement thereof in either direction.

Provision is thus made for locking the tray in any one of severalselected positions, thus adapting the chair for use with children ofdifferent ages. Furthermore, the locking members 24 are of suchconstruction and so positioned that release thereof by a small child isextremely improbable. 4

When the tray is removed, the only parts remaining attached to the chairare the guide members 22, which present only smooth and roundedsurfaces, with no possibility of injury of the child thereby.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claim, but what I claim isz- In an article of furniturehaving a movable tray and a supporting structure therefor, incombination, an elongated sheet metal xed guide member of substantiallysemi-circular cross section and having a laterally extended lowerportion, means to secure said lower portion against an under surface ofsaid supporting structure, said xed guide member having a series ofportions of its semi-circular surface depressed to provide slots andassociated shoulders, a cooperating movable guide member having an upperportion to be secured to the under side of a tray and having a dependingportion loosely fitting and slidable over said xed guide member andguided thereby, said movable guide member being elongated and havingupper and lower openings separated by a longitudinal portion of saidmember and a bent spring steel locking member having an upper portionsecured to said tray and having an intermediate portion extending inthrough said upper opening in said movable guide member and cooperatingwith said locking shoulders in said fixed guide member to secure saidtray in selected position and the lower end of said locking memberextending out 1 through said lower opening in said movable guide memberand constituting a handle by which said fixed and movable guide membersmay be unlocked.

RICHARD STIN SON 1

